Going Topless

Summer is here and what better way to enjoy the sun on your skin and the wind through your hair than going topless! That's right, completely exposed, top off in a convertible. But before you decide to take the plunge and get that convertible you may want to take a few things into consideration. I'm writing this hub to point out some of the positives and negatives of owning a convertible (mostly positive). Having owned a Convertible Mustang for almost a year now there are definitely things I love which I didn't realize I would, but there are a few things that I didn't really take into consideration either. For those of you who are on the fence about whether or not to do the hardtop or the convertible, I'm here to point out some of the advantages and disadvantages of owning the convertible.

1. Just having the dang car. + You will end up wanting to drive everywhere. - Your friends will want you to drive everywhere and sometimes you won't want to, but you will anyway.
2. You'll get a tan. + You will be tan before anyone else you know, just from driving with the top down. - If you aren't careful, you'll end up looking like George Hamilton (or Dallas Raines if you are in the L.A. Area).
3. You'll get noticed. + Great for when you are cruising or just wanting to show off. Everyone loves a convertible. - Cops notice you too. Be extra careful of those buggers because they'll chase you down.
4. The wind in your hair. + It's great to have the breeze blowing while you're driving and feeling the cool air on you. - When you're doing 75 down the highway, the breeze is a little overwhelming, even with the windows up and a windscreen.
5. What You'll Hear and Smell. + You'll hear the birds chirping, dogs barking, the wind blowing, conversations of strangers and much more. You'll Smell flowers and the ocean and tons of other stuff. - You'll hear arguments, bad music that people blast, car horns and alarms, trucks and other road noise. - You'll smell sewers, exhaust, manure, smoke, all kinds of stuff that you wish you hadn't.
6. Cleaning the Car. + A clean convertible is way hotter than a clean hardtop, and way sexier. - A convertible is way harder to keep clean than a hardtop. You will spend more time on the interior than you like.
7. Storage and Seating. + What most people don't realize is that next to a Van, Truck, and Wagon, a Convertible can store quite a bit. With the top down you can load big ticket items with ease! - If you do move a big ticket item, be sure it's safely secured. Papers in a convertible will always fly out if you're not careful.
8. Noticing Nature. + With your top down you'll be sure to notice the clouds, the sky, the birds. - With your top down you are subject to bird crap, bugs, amongst other things. I once drove through a swarm of bee's driving down PCH and that wasn't fun.
9. Your Dog. + Dogs LOVE convertibles and will surely attract a lot of attention. My dog is happiest when she sticks her head above the windshield. - Dogs love other dogs. Make sure your pal is secured and can't jump out because there is a good chance they just might!
10. The Way You'll Look. + Everyone looks great in a convertible and you'll have fun driving around with that wind swept look. - If you have long hair you better be prepared, whether you are a girl or a guy. Scarfs won't work well and you'll constantly be fixing your hair unless it's short.

Something else you may want to think about before you buy is keeping the car clean.  The inside of a convertible gets very dusty fast.  If you are a clean freak, then you may want to think twice.  You will get dust everywhere and in places you didn't think dust could go.  For me, I don't mind it so much as long as I clean my car every once in a while.

Another thing is that most convertibles get worse gas mileage than their hard top versions.  If that is important to you, then you may want to think again.  For me, the gas mileage thing was okay as long as I opted for the V6.  If you are a heavy commuter you'll want to think about those things.  

Will it leak?  No.  My top hasn't leaked once.  My Mustang is an '06 and it still holds up pretty well.  I know a lot of people worry that the rain will get in but unless you're driving an old beat up Miata, you'll be fine.  Not to knock old Miata's.  

Lastly you'll want to consider interior color and top color.  I have a tan interior and if I had known that I was going to get a dog a few months later, I would've gotten black instead.  The tan is nice but it is difficult to keep clean.  The same goes for the top.

So hopefully this hub has given you a better idea as to what a convertible is like, coming from a convertible owner.  One thing I can't speak on is the car in snow conditions.  I live in Southern California and don't ever drive in the snow.  If I did, I would probably still put the top down, at least a couple times anyway!